SLOWDOWN
SLOWDOWN is a European project aimed at promoting slow tourism, a sustainable and enriching approach that fosters a deeper connection with destinations, their cultures, and local communities. Its main goal is to enhance regional policies to support and develop slow tourism, contributing to local economic growth and fostering more responsible tourism across Europe.
Tourism plays a major role in Europe’s economy. Despite its significance, tourism development has faced challenges:
- Overtourism has caused environmental and social issues in some regions.
- Other regions struggle to unlock their tourism potential.
How will it be achieved?
- Learning and exchange: Partners will engage in inter- and intra-regional learning to improve policy frameworks.
- Stakeholder involvement: Relevant stakeholders will be actively engaged, providing essential insights for policy improvements.
- Capacity building: The project will enhance the capacities of partner institutions to better support slow tourism.
These changes will lead to a more balanced, sustainable tourism model that benefits both people and the environment.
Who is involved?
Galway County Council are tandem partners with the BIA Innovator Campus in Athenry on the SLOWDOWN Project. There are 9 partners in total, from 8 EU countries:
- European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, Hungary
- Delta 200 Agency, Italy
- Sibiu County Council, Romania
- Autonomous Community of Region of Murcia, Spain
- Amiens Metropole, France
- Riga Planning Region, Latvia
- University of Eastern Finland
- Galway County Council, Ireland
- BIA Innovator Campus, Ireland
What will this project change?
The SLOWDOWN project will drive positive changes by promoting sustainable tourism, benefiting the environment, local communities, and tourists alike. It will:
- Reduce over-tourism and lessen its environmental impact
- Improve regional policies to better support sustainable tourism
- Enhance organizational capacity through collaboration and learning
- Boost local economies by creating opportunities for small businesses and communities
- Provide tourists with more meaningful, immersive experiences that encourage responsible travel
Get in touch
If you have a question for the Tourism unit, please send us an email and we'll get back to you.
Email and urls
Galway County Council & BIA Innovator Campus host the fourth SLOWDOWN Inter-regional Thematic Workshop
Galway County Council and the BIA Innovator Campus have taken a leading role in promoting slow tourism in the county, hosting European partners from the Interreg Europe Slowdown project.
The week-long programme, held in September 2025, brought together nearly 40 delegates from eight countries to explore how slow tourism can support sustainable local and regional development, boost the local economy and foster responsible travel.
The delegation last week toured East Galway to meet local food producers and explore heritage sites, before traveling to Connemara to plan pilot projects, visit Killary Fjord, Renvyle, and Clifden, and engage with regional stakeholders. The programme concluded with an Interregional Steering Group meeting at Kylemore Abbey, and a visit to Spiddal Village.